Florida's Taylor Spierto, No. 30, celebrates after his blocked punt against Texas. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
Gators Notebook: Spierto's Special Moment, Lagway's Roots, Remembering Henry Brown, More Tidbits
Thursday, October 9, 2025 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The reigning Southeastern Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Week stepped in front of reporters on Wednesday night with a grin on his face.
Yes, former walk-on Taylor Spierto was in demand for the first time in his five seasons at UF, and he was glad to discuss his blocked punt in last week's win over ninth-ranked Texas that resulted in a safety and 19-7 Florida lead at halftime.
"It's hard to put in words how much we work on those plays. I mean, there's so much time, effort and extra meetings with Coach [Joe] Houston that I spend,'' Spierto said. "The stars need to align for it all to come through and happen. And so, when that play got called, and we saw them in the formation that we needed them to be in, and I was in position to make the play, I was really just thinking about making the play.
"Once it happened, it was electric. I was fired up."
Spierto is a receiver whose father, John Spierto, played for the Gators from 1986-88. John Spierto had a moment similar to his son when, against Montana State in the 1988 season opener, he caught a 17-yard pass from future major leaguer Herbert Perry for a first down on a fake punt.
Taylor Spierto grew up in Franklin, Tenn., and said he had some interest from a couple of Division II schools coming out of high school. But his goal was to play for the Gators like his father, and he walked onto the team in 2021.
Spierto's contributions earned him the nickname "Dirty 30" for doing dirty work in his No. 30 jersey and earned him a scholarship last season. Spierto made a splash earlier this season in the season-opening win over Long Island when he caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Tramell Jones Jr. The blocked punt against Texas, Florida's first since Derek Wingo's against Charlotte in 2023, was his biggest play.
Spierto shot through the line of scrimmage and lunged parallel to the ground with his arms fully extended to block Longhorns punter Jack Bouwmeester's kick. The ball rolled out of the back of the end zone as the sold-out crowd at The Swamp erupted.
"He's a leader on our team,'' head coach Billy Napier said. "He's got a voice, and he makes all the other players around him better on special teams. Marquee moment for his career, and just really a reflection of the type of program that we'd like to have."
In the age of the transfer portal and NIL, the future of walk-on programs remains uncertain. Spierto could be a walk-on poster boy. He dreamed of playing at Florida, earned a spot on the roster through his commitment and performance, and eventually earned a scholarship as a standout on special teams.
"Working for moments like that, and to make it happen, is so special,'' Spierto said. "This university is so special to me. I want to represent it the best way I can."
HOME SWEET HOME
Gators quarterback DJ Lagway could have stayed close to his home in Willis, Texas, and played for Texas A&M. The Aggies made a late push for Lagway when head coach Mike Elko took over the program in November 2023.
But Lagway remained committed to Florida and enrolled in January 2024.
The opportunity to play for the first time in his home state is one that Lagway said over the summer he has thought about since signing with the Gators. He was injured and forced to watch from the sideline when the Gators played at Texas last season.
Texas native DJ Lagway is one of nine Gators returning home for Saturday night's game at Texas A&M. (Photo: Morgan Hurd/UAA Communications)
"DJ's obviously a kid we've known and tried very hard to get,'' Elko said this week. "He's an extremely talented quarterback."
Meanwhile, Lagway attended several Aggies games growing up, and Texas A&M was Lagway's first scholarship offer from an SEC school. Kyle Field is located 65 miles from Willis.
Lagway's return is big news around Willis.
"Oh, my goodness, we get ticket requests every day, all day,'' Nikki Lagway, DJ's mom, told the Orlando Sentinel.
"It's always big to go back to the state you grew up,'' Napier said.
DIALING DANIELS
The Gators were without injured running back Ja'Kobi Jackson against Texas, and his replacement, true freshman Duke Clark, filled in nicely with nine carries for 38 yards until leaving the game in the second half with an upper-body injury. KD Daniels
Clark is listed as out against Texas A&M, and Jackson is questionable behind starting tailback Jadan Baugh. The Gators are also without injured Treyaun Webb, who has not played this season following offseason leg surgery.
That could mean some reps for redshirt freshman KD Daniels, who has not played the last four games. Daniels rushed for nine yards on four carries against Long Island in his only action of the season.
"KD is a really good football player," Napier said after Wednesday night's practice. "He's got great instincts. He plays fast. He's productive when given opportunities. He's maximized those. So, obviously with injuries comes opportunity, and certainly he'll be right in the mix here."
Daniels, a four-star signee out of West Point, Miss., was offered a scholarship by Texas A&M and made an unofficial visit to the Aggies in high school, according to 247Sports.com.
REMEMBERING HENRY BROWN
The Gators were in Hawaii on Christmas Day in 1987 to play UCLA in the Aloha Bowl. A photo that moved on the wire services to preview the game was of UF defensive lineman Henry Brown, a media favorite and one of the most quotable players on the team.
Brown wore a Florida sweatshirt and a big smile on his face at Aloha Stadium. The next day, Brown had seven tackles and sacked UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman in Florida's 20-16 loss, Brown's final game in his No. 99 UF jersey.
Former Gators defensive lineman Henry Brown, who grew up in Fort Myers and was a three-sport standout in high school, played at UF from 1984-87. (Photo: UAA files)
He sniffed an opportunity at the NFL, but before long, Brown settled in Orlando and devoted his life to helping others.
Brown died Sept. 29 in a tragic incident that involved his son. His death left a void at United Against Poverty in Orlando, a nonprofit organization that battles homelessness and poverty to help those less fortunate regain dignity and self-sufficiency.
"Henry's generosity, empathy and commitment to helping others touched countless lives,'' wrote Joshua St. Jean, marketplace manager of United Against Poverty in Orlando.
As Brown prepared for his final game with the Gators, he contemplated life after football.
"If I don't make [the NFL], the trip to Hawaii will be a sweet way to end it,'' he told the Miami Herald. "Plus, I know that when football is over, I am going to be a school teacher. I love being around kids and helping them."
Brown helped others until the end. A memorial service for 59-year-old Henry James Brown is scheduled Saturday at noon at Mitchell's Funeral Home in Orlando (501 Fairvilla Road).
NO CATCH, NO WORRIES
Third-year sophomore receiver Eugene Wilson III burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2023 with 61 receptions and six touchdowns. Wilson played only four games last season before needing offseason hip surgery.
Wilson is healthy and back on the field, but the shifty slot receiver ranks third behind true freshman Vernell Brown III (21) and tight end Hansen (17) in receptions. Meanwhile, with the addition of true freshman Dallas Wilson against Texas – he missed the first four games with a foot injury – opportunities in the passing game are likely going to be harder to come by. Gators receiver Eugene Wilson III. (Photo: Jordan Perez/UAA Communications)
Napier said Wilson is playing well regardless of what his stat line (15 catches, 73 yards, two TDs) says. Wilson did not have a reception in the win over Texas and has only three grabs in the last three games.
"He played great,'' Napier said Wednesday. "He played physical, he was tough, he blocked his ass off. I mean, I was really impressed with the guy. The ball didn't go his way during the game, but man, he played really well.
"Very pleased with Trey and his attitude and approach. I mean, look, receiver's one of those positions, man. I'm watching how you play without the ball, right? Sometimes the ball goes your way quite a bit and you get a lot of praise in the public, but the reality is you might not have played well. He played really well. He did a great job for the team, and yeah, we're going to try to get him involved as much as we can."
